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Schools thank community

Dear Editor:

Wednesday, Aug. 23, was an exciting day for our Harrison Hills City School District community. Three events were held this day beginning with our open houses, followed by the Back to School Rally, and the day culminated with the ground breaking for Harrison Central’s PK-12 new facility.

The day began with our well-attended open houses in all three buildings. Thank you to the parents for your support in your child’s education. Open house allows parents and students opportunities to meet building administrators and staff, plus for new students to familiar themselves with their new schools.

Then in early afternoon began our Back To School Rally. The board of education, administration and staff would like to thank the supporters of the “Back To School Kick-Off” that was held at the John Stephenson Building at Harrison Central. Nearly 1,000 students and their families attended this event where students received notebooks, paper, pencils, crayons, glue and folders. All attendees enjoyed pizza, drinks and cotton candy funded solely by grants. Carnival inflatable rides and games were also available for family fun. Seventeen community partners participated in this event and also provided school supplies and treats. The community partners were: OSU Extension, Crossroads Counseling, Ohio Hills, United Way, Capital Health, Harrison Hills Church, Scott Methodist Church, Southeast Counseling, Tri-County Help Center, Harrison Cheerleaders, Department of Job and Family Services, WIC, Help Me Grow, Harrison County Health Department, Harrison Board of Developmental Disabilities, Harrison Juvenile Court and Sheriff’s office, and Harrison Community Hospital. Thank you to Pam Parrish for her organization of community members, Cadiz McDonald’s for the delicious apple slice snacks and Harrison Board of Developmental Disabilities staff and clients for assembling the student school supply bags. This event would not be such a success if not for these partners’ support.

Finally, the day ended with the PK-12 new facility ground-breaking. The Harrison Central band, select choir and cheerleaders were part of this exciting event. Thank you to (state) Sen. (Frank) Hoagland for your attendance at this event, along with representatives from (U.S. Rep.) Bill Johnson and (U.S. Sen.) Sherrod Brown’s offices. Dignitaries also in attendance were Judge Mathew Puskarich, county Commissioners Don Bethel and Paul Coffland, Cadiz Mayor Ken Zitko, Cadiz Administrator Charles Bowman, Sheriff Joe Myers along with County and Village Community Improvement Council Members Curt Crawshaw, Ken Mason and Mark Chisnell. Additional attendees were past superintendents Jim Drexler and Sam Lucas, many Harrison Hills current and past employees, plus current and past board of education members and administrators.

The three events of the open houses, Back to School Kick-Off and the ground breaking for the new facility were truly an excellent example where the community and school district work together to provide wonderful events for all! Thank you to everyone who made these events so special.

Dana L. Snider

Superintendent

Harrison Hills City Schools

Vote ‘yes’ for levy

Dear Editor,

In 1889, steel tycoon Andrew Carnegie, at the time one of the richest people in the world, gave funding to build the first public library in Pittsburgh, Pa. The child of a poor Scottish immigrant, Carnegie went on to build thousands of public libraries worldwide. All of these libraries offered free access to books and information for all citizens regardless of economic and social background. In fact, many of these libraries were often some of the few places to welcome African-Americans during the early civil rights challenges of the 1950s and 1960s. Today, many of our public libraries provide the same free services to our residents.

The St. Clairsville Public Library is one such beacon for many residents throughout the Ohio Valley. The library provides educational materials, programs, and information for everyone. Whether you are a stay at home mother who needs somewhere to take your little ones for an affordable outing, or a displaced worker looking for guidance to build your resume, the St. Clairsville Public Library offers services and information to all residents of our area.

In addition, the library staff has developed a partnership with our reading intervention program, Project MORE. Once a week, for one hour, a staff member comes to our school to work with students in need of support to build their reading skills. Many of our classes make monthly pilgrimages to the library for books and research. And you will often find students returning with their families to check out materials for leisure reading.

For some of these students, like young Carnegie, the library is a source of hope. Many families cannot afford to provide books or internet access for research to their children. Some of these students also need a safe place to go after school. The St. Clairsville Public Library provides this and more.

This November, the St. Clairsville Public Library will be seeking community support for levy funds. While the services the library offers are free for residents, running the library is not. For the library to be able to continue its wonderful services, it needs financial support. Federal and state funding is often not enough to support these needs. And while I realize that there are few Andrew Carnegies among us, there are those with the same heart and spirit. We can change the lives of many by voting “yes” for the levy.

In 1901, Carnegie sold his steel company to J.P. Morgan for half a billion dollars. He gave it all away to build libraries. This one selfless act changed the world. For far less than that, we can change our own world.

Sheila Baum,

Parent Coordinator

Project MORE

St. Clairsville Elementary

Bash a success

Dear Editor,

Buckeye Local’s Team B.L.U.E. committee would like to thank all of the community organizations, personal donations, staff and administration donations toward our Back to School bash that was held Aug. 6 at our high school. It was a tremendous showing of how several communities can come together and provide much-need supplies for the students beginning another year of school. Because of the financial situation in our district and the end of our grant, the bash was not going to happen this year. A group of community members, staff, administration, and parents formed a group now known as Team B.L.U.E. (Buckeye Local Uniting Everyone). Their mission and goal is to provide positive projects, build school spirit and Restore the Roar back in Buckeye Local because we believe in our students. We know we have a bright future because of them. We would like to thank the following organizations and people that made our Bash so successful with monetary donations, supplies, door prizes and vendor tables:

Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority — Beta Epsilon Chapter, Cardinal Plant, Peoples National Bank,Wheeler Funeral Home, Magnabilities — Belinda Boyce, Rayland Methodist Church, Meadowbrook Church of God, Warren Twp. Lions, Brilliant Lions, Adena United Methodist Church, Origami Owl, Rush Run Community Chapel, Lula Roe, First Presbyterian Church Brilliant, Jamby, Yorkville United Methodist Church, Touch of Amish, Brilliant United Methodist Church, Lip Sense, St. Casimir Church Catholic Women’s Club, Maynard United Methodist Church,Yorkville VFW, DAMABO Portable Sawmill — Danny Boyce, Coleman Professional Services, Soap Mason, Jefferson Behavioral Services, Younique, Kim Leonard, North PTO, Dr. Joseph DePalma, BL Cross Country, Joe Zelek, Charles Eddy DJ, Tiltonsville Tabernacle, Naomi Kolkedy, Bob Czuchran, Walmart, April Ogden, Tiltonsville Fire Dept., BL Cheerleaders, Bodnar and Sons Florist, J. Schultz Excavating, LLC, Roger and Margaret Warren, JB Green Team, Zeroski’s Excavating, Stephanie Balk, Debbie Walker, Mt. Pleasant Fire Dept., Cheri McClung, Mason Boyce, Yorkville Squad, Jeff Runnion, BL Cheerleaders, Diane McCracken, Kerri Bobish, Carol Webb, Rusty Cominsky, Moovin’ and Groovin” Entertainment, Titltonsville United Methodist Church and all the volunteers that came and worked to make it a success.

We hope that we did not miss anyone, because everyone is important to such a great cause.

Thank you and God Bless you for your kindness and generosity.

Susan Nolan

Brilliant

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